JOHOR BAHRU: A syabu and cocaine-processing drug syndicate with international links appeared to have been ready to take on the long arm of law, in the event of an imminent raid.

This assumption was made after police seized four pistols, a hand grenade and 140 rounds of ammunition in the city early this week.

During the five anti-drug raids since Monday in Perling, Larkin and Bandar Dato Onn, the police also seized an assortment of drugs worth RM6.2 million, believed to have been meant for the ready markets in Singapore and Indonesia.

Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said 12 people believed to be members of the syndicate were detained to facilitate investigations into international drug distribution.

He said the suspects aged between 21 and 58, comprised a Singaporean man, four Chinese women, a Vietnamese man and woman, and five local men, including the syndicate’s chemist.

The police also seized a hand grenade, four pistols and 140 bullets, he added.

“Preliminary investigations have revealed the syndicate members processed various drugs, including syabu, ketamin and cocaine that were believed to have been distributed to Indonesia and Singapore,” he told a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent headquarters (IPK) here today. Also seized during the raids were various currencies worth about RM57,000, seven vehicles, seven watches and an assortment of jewellery totalling RM620,000.

Mohd Mokhtar said the Singaporean man was in possession of another person’s passport, adding that the police had requested the Immigration Department to help determine the validity of the travel document.

All the foreigners entered the country using social visit passes, he said.

The local suspects will be held under remand for seven days until July 17, and the foreigners have been remanded for two weeks. — BERNAMA

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Bukit Aman Narcotics CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said 12 people believed to be members of the syndicate were detained to facilitate investigations into international drug distribution. Bernama Photo